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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To not want MIL living with us part time?

419 replies

powderbluegecko · 06/03/2018 18:03

Have name changed for this as DH knows my usual one and he might be annoyed about me posting this. Although if he reads this he'll know who it's about. Anyway..

I don't like my MIL at all, mainly because she is dishonest and manipulative with a massive victim complex. I had no contact with her for a few years after her and BIL1 stole from us but recently saw her at a family wedding. DH didn't go NC, he spoke to them occasionally on the phone. BIL has since found God and is apparently a reformed character. He's at least apologised and paid us back, she has never said anything. I don't want anymore trouble so agreed with DH to put it behind us. I thought this meant that if I saw her I would be polite, nothing more. We don't live near her and she has never shown any interest in our DD(4).

MIL lives with BIL1 in a rented flat, her and FIL separated 5 years ago. She owns a house that used to be rented out but has now been empty for several years and needs some work done to it.

Last night DH told me that BIL1 is getting married soon and decided he doesn't want her living with him anymore. He never really did but felt forced into it. They, along with BIL2 offered to pay for her house to be sorted so she can live there but she refused and said she wont live by herself. She wanted to get back with FIL, but he said no. She has now decided that she will live part time with each of her 3 sons, spending a week in each house. They agreed to this. BIL1 has not asked his fiance, BIL2 did not ask SIL (her and MIL detest each other) and DH did not ask me, he just told me that this is how it is, and it's not a big deal. He says I need to be the bigger person and that even if she's awful she's still his mum. He said she's old (she's actually 59) and she's ill (made up heart condition).

I've been completely blindsided by this, whenever there was problems in the past he was always on my side. She is the kind of person that could cause trouble in an empty room, she thrives on drama and has always played her sons off against each other. She tried to do it with me and SIL too. I cant cope with her mood swings, lies and attention seeking and don't want her around DD. She lived with us for a month before I went NC with her and it was probably the worst month of my life. DH says she'll be better now and I need to be positive. I just want to run away. I don't think this is fair at all and I'm horrified that he's just burying his head in the sand. He works very long hours and I'm a SAHM. It'll be me that's with her all the time, she barely goes out, and doesn't know anyone where we live to visit or anything. AIBU?

OP posts:
mojito55 · 06/03/2018 19:29

I would be absolutely fuming if my DP tried this, ultimate CF when he's at work all day! Hopefully you and SIL will be able to team up and knock some sense into them... Love the idea of the men taking it in turns to live at her flat! Also I'm sorry you have to have this vile woman in your life Flowers

TidyDancer · 06/03/2018 19:31

There is absolutely zero chance I could get on board with this. I love my MIL but would never want to live with her. The worst part of this is your DH presenting this as a done deal.

Bluelady · 06/03/2018 19:32

You and your SiLs really do need to put up a united front. If I was on holiday I'd want to know what was being plotted behind my back.

bittern79 · 06/03/2018 19:32

Hell to the no!

Why should you? Can’t believe your h is being so unsupportive. How would he like it if you said you were moving someone in to your house??

LeighaJ · 06/03/2018 19:32

FlippingFoal

"God in her late 50s she could be living with you for another 30 years!"

^This. It's a pseudo scientific fact that mean people live Forever, so it could be even longer than 30 years.

Headofthehive55 · 06/03/2018 19:33

Maybe she has never lived alone before?
Women often didn't years ago. So it's strange and unexpected for her.
I agree don't let her move in!
I know someone similar and the woman in question is oblivious that none of her children actually want to share their houses with her but to her it's a perfect solution.

rollingonariver · 06/03/2018 19:34

Tell him to move her into a nursing home if she's so old and frail.

YouTheCat · 06/03/2018 19:35

If she's playing the doddery old lady at 59 I'd suggest getting her some nice brochures for sheltered accommodation. She won't be on her own and there'll be someone on hand to deal with her fictitious ailments,

I'd suggest this to your dh as being much more sensible as she will need more specialist care as she gets older. Make out that you're saying this out of concern for her future health.

rollingonariver · 06/03/2018 19:35

You agreed to be in a relationship with him not her, it's an absolute no from you. You'll be living wth her forever. Would she be paying rent ?

GabsAlot · 06/03/2018 19:37

how the hell is 59 old on what planet!

and what does he think hes doing going behind your back and sayingyes

you have to give him an ultimatum now her or you

FuzzyCustard · 06/03/2018 19:38

Maybe she has never lived alone before?

Well I suppose it is just possible but I am just a little older than her and I lived alone..

  1. as a student (no halls, just a rented room)
  2. before I got married
  3. between marriages (for 11 years)

59 is NOT OLD. The world has not changed that much!

Theresasmayshoes11 · 06/03/2018 19:38

Phone the sil you know! This is more important than her holiday. Does she know the other fiancées number? If not phone your bil, tell him it’s not happening to you anyway and find her number to warm her.

You sils need to stand firm here. And I would be livid if dh tried to bully me like this.

she used to pinch her nephew wtaf

Rawhh · 06/03/2018 19:40

Well it looks like the 3 sons better get DMs house refurbished pronto seeing as that is where they will all be living, together, when their respective partners kick them all out. Hmm

Gazelda · 06/03/2018 19:41

If this were me, not only would I be saying a firm 'no' to the plan, but I'd also be seriously considering divorce because DH had even considered this a good idea for a nanosecond.

powderbluegecko · 06/03/2018 19:41

DH is home now, thanks everyone for your support and advice, will try to sort this out now.

OP posts:
BreakfastAtSquiffanys · 06/03/2018 19:43

I love my MIL, she is brilliant but I would not want her living with us 1 week out of 3.
Your MIL?
Never.

Renovating her house, and the 3 sons taking turns to live with her there is a brilliant idea.
It also preserves the value of the house (and preserves your sanity)

Idontdowindows · 06/03/2018 19:44

Just adding my voice to the not on your ninny chorus here and I hope your husband sees the light!

Downwiththatsortofthing252 · 06/03/2018 19:45

Has your DH forgotten that she stole from you or something? Why else would he invite a thief into his house and give her plenty of opportunity to do it again?

The best solution is to get the house ready and either she gets a lodger or the brothers stay there on a rota. Can you sell the lodger idea to her; say she can get in a lodger who does a lot of the cleaning for less rent?

flipperflop · 06/03/2018 19:45

My answer would be a straight no...and no negotiation...

WheresTheHooferDoofer · 06/03/2018 19:45

No way at all would I ever agree to this. It's obvious that sooner or later MIL will decide that she wants to stay with one son permanently.

BIL1 is getting married soon and decided he doesn't want her living with him anymore.

This suggests to me that his DW to be isn't keen on MIL either, I'd be surprised if she carried on with the wedding if this deal remains on the table.

RottenTomatoes959 · 06/03/2018 19:45

What the shit! A thousand times no! How dare he decide that without consulting you.
And please tell your SIL now,give her time to understand and so she's able to formulate a calm way to tell her H to get stuffed.

Theresasmayshoes11 · 06/03/2018 19:46

Stay strong op

GummyGoddess · 06/03/2018 19:46

My mum is 59 this year, she would be outraged if I declared her old and past it, my younger siblings are still teenagers! She gets genuinely mistaken for a friend rather than my mother which delights her (and mortifies me).

Can you speak to sister of SIL and ask her if she thinks SIL would prefer to know now or later?

PP are right about caring, at some point she will need to be cared for properly unless she has a sudden death. Do you want to be nursing this person for years on end at the expense of everything else? That will happen if she's living with you, your DH will feel too guilty to move her out.

LakieLady · 06/03/2018 19:46

Good luck, OP.

Make sure he knows you mean it, and that "No" is a complete sentence.

ThePinkOcelot · 06/03/2018 19:48

Not a fucking hope!!